Feather renovator



I Mar. 13,1923.

Mo/ ...y

FILED NOV. 5, |921.

, f y m..

H. A. CHADWICK ET AL.

FEATHER RENovAoR Mar. 13,1923;

H. A. CHADWICK ET AL. FEATHER RENovAToR. FILED Nov 5,1921

Patented Mar., 13, i923.

HARVEY A. CHADWICK AND ROBERT A. GREENE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO OTIS BED MFG. COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW'YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FEATHER RENOVATOR.

Application led November 5, 1921. Serial No. 513,115.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, HARVEY A. CHAD- WICK and ROBERT A. GREENE, citizens of the United States, residing at Buffa-lo, in the county of Erie and btate of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in Feather Renovators, of which the following1 is a specification.

his invention relates to an apparatus for renovating and sterilizing the feathers of pillows and mattresses.

lts chief object is the provision of an efficient machine of this character by which feathers can be thoroughly disinfected, purified and dried in a comparatively short time.

A further object is to so organize the apparatus that the feathers, afterv being renof vated and dried, may be delivered either into receiving loins or directly into ticks or cases, without being handled, rendering them absolutely clean and sanitary and keeping them light and flu'y.

in the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. YFigure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Figure 3 is a rear view thereof. Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section on line L)L -4r, Fig. 1. Figure 5 is a similar section on line 5-5, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 6-6, Fig. 5. Figure 7 is a Vertical section on line 7-7, Fig. 6. Figure 8 is a view simi-- lar to Fig. 7, showing the tick-filling nozzle applied to the discharge box. Figure 9 is a perspective view of said nozzle.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

10 indicates a housing or casing preferably of oblong form -having a dome-like top 11 terminating in a central discharge iiue 12 for the down of the feathers. rl`his flue may be closed by a slide or valve 13. In its side the housing has a manhole closed by a doorlf. Supported lengthwise within the lower portion of the housing is a trough or opent-ank 15, preferably of semicircular form. llhe upperpart of the housing into which the tank opens constitutes a renovating and sterilizing chamber 16 and is separated by, a. diaphragm 17 from the lower part which contains the tank and constitutes a heating chamber 18 for the latter. rIhis chamber is heated by radiators 19 or -suitable cut-off valve or slide 26.

other suitable appliances which may be located beneath the .tank and at its sides, as shown in Fig. 4.

Located within the apparatus is a perforated steam-delivery pipe 2O for thoroughly sterilizing and purifying the feathers, superheated steam being most suitable for this purpose. This pipe is preferably arranged'lengthwise within the tank near its upper rear side and is provided outside of the housing 10 witha hand valve 21.

A suitable agitator is arranged in the tank for keeping the feathers in constant motion and subjecting all portions thereof to the action of the steam. rThe preferred device for. this purposey consists of a longitudinal shaft 22 provided with agitator arms 23 extending radially therefrom, this shaft extending through` one end of they housing 10 where it has a pulley 24 for driving it. The arms23 are preferably arranged spirally and so as to trend from hoth ends toward the center of the shaft. By this arrangement the feathers in all parts of the tank and the casing are kept in--circulation and thoroughly subjected to the steaming process.

Leading into the housing near its upper end is an inlet conduit 25 for the feathers to be treated which is connected with a supply bin,v not shown, this conduit having a Communicating with the opposite end of the lhousing near its upper end is a suction conduit 27 leading to an exhaust box or chamber 28 which is in turn connected by a. pipe 29 with the inlet of a fan 30y or other suitable current inducing means. The purpose of the conduit 27 is to draw the feathers to be treated through the inlet conduit 25 into the housing, thus avoiding handling of the feathers. Said suction conduitis provided with a valve 31 for regulating or cutting offthe suction current from the housinfr. 4 f

it the rear end of its lower portion, the tank 15 lis provided-with a feather-outlet or tube 32 communicating with the exhaust box 28, for withdrawing the renovated and dried feathers from the tank, without handling` them, as hereinafter more yfully described. This outlet is controlled by a cut-oli' valve of slide 33 having a port 34: adapted to register with the outlet, to place it in communication with the exhaust box, this valve hav- 39 connected to different sides of the valve case. The delivery of the feathers into the several bins is controlled'by slides 40 yor other appropriate valves.

ln order topermit the renovated feathersl to be discharged directly into pillow or mattress ticks without handling the feathers,the discharge' box 36 is provided with anvauxiliary outlet 41 normally closed by a vdoor or valve 42 hinged at its l.lower edge to said box. Upon opening this door, there may be applied to said outlet, a detachable spout 43 over which the ticks are successively slipped, as shown in Fig. 8, to'fill them.

' The spout has a base flange 44 which `is conned at its lower edge between the inner edge of the open door 42 and the adjacent wall ofthe discharge hox,.the upper edge of the spout ilangebeing secured in place by the same turn button 45 which keeps said vdoor closed. To control the delivery of the feathers into the ticks, the 'outlet is provided with a valve or slide 46, y v

As shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the exhaust box 28 has a` vent-opening 47 controlled by a Valve or door 48, preferably hinged like the door 42 of the discharge box. They valve is opened more yor less, as required, topermit the necessary suction current for discharging the feathers from the housing and to prevent clogging fof the discharge conduit 37.

Provisionis also made for separately collecting the down or very small and light feathers. This consists of a hood 49 placed over the upper end of the flue 12, and an lauxiliary suction conduit or branch leading fromy the top of the hood to the main suction conduit'27 ling valve 51.

To conveniently gather up and collect any and containing a controlfeathers lying on the floor around the renovatonthe removable spout 43 may be transferred'to the auxiliary inlet 47 of the exhaust box, and a hose 52 attached to the spout, such outside feathers being discharged into one of the receiving bins. The operation of the apparatus is as follows The valve of the feather inlet-conduit 25, and the valve 31 of the main suction conduit 27 areopened, and the valve 33 of the feather outlet tube, the damper 13 of thel flue 12, and the valves 4S, 42 of the exhaust and discharge boxes 28, 36 are closed. Upon setting the fan in motion, a suction current is created which draws the feathers to be renovated through the inlet conduit 2,5 into the housing of theapparatus. After thus loading the renovator, the inlet and suction valves26, 31a're closed, the fan is stopped, steam is admitted to the pipe 20, the agitator arms are actuated and heat is suppliedto the radiators 19. The feathers are subjected to the renovating and sterilizing action of the steam for a suiiicient period, say about five minutes, the same being constantly kept in motion by the agitator arms whereby all portions thereof are exposed to the steamand thoroughly treated. The steam is then turned off and the flue damper 13V opened to allow thevvapor to escape from the housing, after which the down and feathers are allowed to remainy in the housing for about fifteen minutes to thoroughly dry them, the agitators being kept inmotion to expedite this step.v The fan is 'again started and the down is next withdrawn from the renovator by opening the suction valve 51.

lf the dried feathers are to be discharged into a given receiving bin, the corresponding valve 40 vof the, distributing head V38 is opened together with the, valve 33 of the suction outlet 32 of the tank, whereupon the feathers are withdrawn from the renovator by the fan and delivered into said bin. Vhen it is desired to fill pillow ticks ,or mattresses with renovated feathers directly from the renovator, all the valves 40 of the distributing head 33 are closed,the filling spout 43 is applied tothe auxiliary outlet 41 of the discharge box 36, as shown in Fig.

valve 33 `of the suction outlet 32 opened, as before. p

This improved apparatus thoroughly sterilizes, purifies and dries the A,feathers 'and renders them light and fiuffy, This is accomplished in a comparatively short time and without the necessityof touchiiig` or'hanfdling the feathers which are drawn into and i out of the renovator by the fan and delivered kby it either directly into the ticks or into The apparatus j receiving bins, as desired.

thus renders the renovating process perfectly clean and sanitary from beginning to end.

By arranging the suction outlet 27 in they upper part of the casing, as shown, the air current tends to lift feather-scr keep them in suspension to a certain extent. This lessens the resistance to thel agitator and enables it to be actuated whileloading the machine, thus avoiding undue strain on the agitator shaft and` saving time in renovating' the successive charges or batches of feathers, by permitting them to be subjected at once to the'steamingl action.

1anl

103 8, the tick is slipped over the spout, and the l y' We claim as our invention:

l. A :feather renovator, comprising a treating chamber having a feather inlet, an outlet for a suction-current and a feather outlet, an exhaust device, and suction-conduits leading from said current outlet and said feather outlet to said exhaust device.

2. A feather renovator, comprising a treating chamber having a feather inlet in its upper portion, an outlet fora suction current located in the upper portion of the treating chamber opposite feather in let and a feather outlet located in the lower portion of said chamber, an exhaust device, and exhaust conduits leading from said current outlet and said feather outlet to said 'exhaust device.

3. A feather renovator, comprising a casing having a feather inlet, a tank arranged in the lower portion of said casing and having a feather outlet, an agitator located in said tank, means for delivering` steam into said casing, and an exhaust device for drawing -the feathers to be treated through said inlet into the casing and withdrawing the renovated feathers through said outlet.

4C. A feather renovator, comprising a casing having a feather inlet, a tank arranged in the lower portion of said casing and having a feather outlet, an agitator located in said tank, a perforated steam delivery pipe arranged in the upper portion of said tank, and an exhaust device for drawing the feathers to be treated through said inlet into the casing and withdrawing the renovated feathers through said outlet.

5. A feather renovator, comprising a treating chamber having a feather inlet and a feather outlet, an exhaust device, a suction conduit leading from said feather outlet to said exhaust device, and an air box interposed in said conduit and having a valvecontrolled air inlet.

6. A feather renovator, comprising a treating chamber having a feather inlet and a feather outlet, an exhaust device, a suction conduit leading from said feather outlet to the inlet of said exhaust device, and a discharge box connected to the outlet of said exhaust device and having a delivery opening.

7. A feather renovator, comprising a treating chamber having a feather-inlet, an outlet for a suction current and a feather outlet, an exhaust device, suction conduits leading from said current outlet and said feather outlet to the suction side of said exhaust device, an air box interposed in the conduit leading from said feather outlet and having a valve-controlled air inlet, and a discharge-box connected to the delivery side of said exhaust device and having a valvecontrolled outlet.

8. A feather renovator comprising a treating chamber having a feather inlet, an outlet for a suction current and a feather outlet, an exhaust device, suction conduits leading from said current-outlet, and Said feather outlet to the suction side of said exhaust device., an air box interposed in the conduit leading from said feather outlet and having a valve-controlled air inlet, a discharge-box connected to the delivery side of said exhaust device and having a valve-controlled outlet, and a transferable spout applicable to the inlet of said air box or the outlet of said discharge box.

9. A feather renovator, comprising a treating-chamber having a feather inlet, a feather outlet in the lower portion of said chamber, and an outlet for down in its upper portion, an exhaust device, and suction conduits leading from said feather and down outlets to said exhaust device.

10. A feather renovator, comprising a treating chamber having a feather inlet, an outlet for a suction current opposite said inlet, a feather outlet in the lower portion of said chamber and an outlet for down in its upper portion, an exhaust device, a conduit connecting said feather outlet with said exhaust device and having a cut-off valve, a

main suction conduit leading from said suction-current outlet to said exhaust device, a branch conduit leading from said down outlet to said main suction conduit, and cutoff valves arranged in said main and branch suction conduits.

11.A feather renovator, comprising a treating chamber provided in its top with an outlet for down, a hood arranged over said down outlet, an exhaust device, and a suction conduit leading from said hood to said exhaust device.

12. A feather renovator, comprising a treating chamber provided in its lower portion with a feather outlet and in its top with an outlet flue for down, said flue having a damper, a hood arranged over the upper end of said flue, an exhaust device, and suction conduits leading from vsaid hood and said feather outlet to said exhaust device and each having a cut 0E valve.

HARVEY A. CHADWCK. ROBERT A. GREENE. 

